Bride & Seek (Enchanted Bridal #5) - Samantha Chase Page 0,11

just need to talk about it.

Even though it could lead to a lot of trouble for him.

With a weary sigh, Cade asked, “You got a few minutes to talk?”

Clearly surprised, she nodded, and the two of them began to walk toward Cade’s office. While on the way, they talked about resort business–equipment maintenance and upcoming events requiring a little specialized care from the grounds crew. Once they were in the office, Cade handed Dixie a bottle of water, and they both took a seat.

“So what’s going on?”

“It’s about Cammie.”

“Cammie Parker?”

He nodded.

“Is there a problem?”

“There could be…”

“Uh-oh…do I need to call someone from human resources in here with us?”

Cade rested his elbows on his desk and sighed. “Can we sort of make this…off the record?”

“Shit, Cade. Come on. What’s going on?”

Cade gave her the basics on how he had first met Cammie and how he knew her ex was getting married at the resort and how she’d been trying to dodge him.

“That doesn’t really sound like an issue. She hid out in the tool shed,” she said matter-of-factly. “I suppose it could be an insurance issue if she had gotten hurt, but…”

“I’m not done,” Cade interrupted wearily. “We were walking back through the lobby last week, and as we were heading toward the office hallway, her ex and his fiancée were heading our way. It would have been obvious if she took off running and…I panicked.”

Dixie’s gaze remained neutral. “I think I would have heard if you punched a guest.”

“That might have been the easier route.”

“Cade…”

“I kissed her.”

“And?”

He was confused. “And…what? I kissed Cammie in the middle of the damn lobby.”

And then it hit Dixie. “Ooohhh…she didn’t ask you to kiss her. You just kissed her. Got it.” Then she frowned. “If you’re asking if she lodged a complaint or said anything to me, she hasn’t. Do you think she went to human resources or to upper management?”

Cade shook his head. “Not that I know of.” He raked a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “If she had, I probably would have heard by now, right?”

Dixie nodded. “I take it you haven’t spoken to Cammie since this happened.”

“Exactly. Haven’t seen her either. For all I know, she quit because of me.”

“That confident in your kissing skills?” she teased, but as soon as Cade shot her an annoyed look, she turned serious again. “Okay, you want my advice as your friend or co-worker?”

“Let’s go with friend first.”

“You can put your mind at ease. She didn’t quit. We have a wedding expo coming up that she’s in charge of, so she’s been swamped.” She paused. “And I think you’re making more of this than you need to. It was an awkward situation, and you simply reacted. If Cammie were upset about it, you would have heard about it. The gossip grapevine around here would have been all over it, and I don’t doubt for a minute that someone would have been over here to call you out on it.”

Cade felt himself relaxing. “Okay. Thanks. Whew…”

“Now as your co-worker and someone in management…”

“Shit…”

“Yeah,” Dixie began. “It is definitely not cool for you to just… kiss someone who didn’t ask to be kissed. You need to go and make sure she’s all right–but talk to her in front of one someone if you can. Or I can go with you.”

“Okay,” Cade said. It was no more than what he’d been telling himself. When he looked at her, he noticed the expectant look on her face. “You mean now?”

“No time like the present.”

This time the curse that came out was a little more colorful. “It’s a Friday, Dixie. And you told me she’s been busy. Plus, I can’t go walking around the resort like this.” He motioned to his dirty work clothes.

Rather than respond, Dixie pulled her phone out, typed out a quick text, and then waited a minute. Cade heard the ding of response and watched as she rose from her seat.

“Come on. Anna May said Cammie is in the office and they have about thirty minutes before they have to go and do a walk-through for an anniversary party we’re having here tonight. Let’s go clear this up.”

Cade followed like a man being led to his own execution and wondered why he even thought talking about this would be helpful.

“Stop looking like that,” she said, grinning. “It’s not going to be so bad.”

“Um…it’s going to be awkward. That’s pretty much a given.”

They walked the rest of the way in silence